I’m a little bummed that the Olympics is over… I wanted to watch more than I did. Oh well, I should still be alive in another 4 years and my chance will continue.

I found it funny that when the Olympics were on… every sport all of a sudden became interesting if there was an American participating. It didn’t matter what it was:

  • Archery… I actually enjoyed watching it!
  • Synchronized swimming? As much as I wanted to make fun of it, it was beautiful.
  • Rhythmic gymnastics could have been called “Dancing with Ribbons.” It looked like someone went to the garage and got some balls and hula hoops to add to their ribbon-dance. I don’t know anyone in the world who does that, or has ever signed their kids up for ribbon dancing club team… but it was awesome!
  • Power-lifting blew me away. The East German women… dang, I felt so weak as I watched them lift the weight of a Volkswagon.

My favorites were: women’s Volleyball (because my daughter plays), and Gymnastics… mostly because of the things they could do. It was unbelievable! I haven’t been able to stretch enough to touch my toes since the Nixon administration. I pulled a muscle just cheering from my couch.

Olympic athletes were inspirational: 6.5 billion people in the world, and there is nobody better at their specialty than those gold medal winners… in the whole world! They are the greatest!

As the Olympics came to an end, I got thinking about Kingdom Living and how differently Jesus defined greatness. His definition seems a lot more difficult in today’s world than become great at pole vaulting great heights, doing flips off the high-dive, and lifting large weights overhead. Talk about “degree of difficulty.”


So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:4

So many striving to be great in the eyes of world… so few living with humility.

I get saddened to see this posture among so many of today’s visible Christian leaders. I don’t know what the answer is and I realize it’s always easier to point out problems than to offer solutions–I’m sorry I don’t have a three point plan to eradicate arrogance. I often wonder what the day will be like when Jesus’ words ring true of the Great Reversal:

“Many who are first will end up last, and the last first.” Mark 10:31

Question: what type of greatness are you pursuing? How do you know? Who has been given “back-stage” privileges to your life to call you out and hold you accountable? Are you going for the

[humility] gold? Thoughts?

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